Definitions

elementary

[el-uh-men-tuh-ree, -tree] / ˌɛl əˈmɛn tə ri, -tri /

ADJECTIVE

simple, basic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

elemental fundamental rudimentary straightforward underlying

WEAK

ABCs abecedarian basal beginning child's play clear duck soup easy essential facile foundational initial introductory meat and potatoes original plain prefatory preliminary primary primitive primo simplest simplex simplified substratal uncomplex uncomplicated

Antonyms

STRONGEST

additional advanced extra secondary

WEAK

abstruse complex complicated compound difficult hard intricate involved

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In elementary school, I was rambunctious and outgoing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

By fall 2025, 1 of 12 entering students was placed into remedial math to learn material taught in elementary and middle school.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

There is one more sibling but it’s a boy in elementary school.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

This ultimate step will allow definitive claims to be made, potentially unlocking a new understanding of how the universe works at the most elementary level.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

As we have seen, editions of Sacrobosco’s Sphere, the elementary textbook for the Ptolemaic system, and of Peuerbach’s Theoricae, the more advanced textbook, dropped off sharply after 1610.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Vocabulary lists containing elementary

Animal Farm

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Essential English Vocabulary, List 1

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'Tis A Gift To Be Simple: Words For National Simplicity Day

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